Kyler Murray Landing Spots Discussed by NFL Insiders Amid Rumors on Cardinals Future

As speculation about Kyler Murray's future has picked up in recent weeks, it seems increasingly likely that he won't be back with the Arizona Cardinals in 2026.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, some teams that could be potential landing spots for Murray if he doesn't remain with the Cardinals might include the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers.

None of these teams jumps out as a surprise given the current state of their quarterback rooms. It will also be interesting to see how the 2026 draft class is viewed and what that could mean for Murray's value.

B/R's NFL scouting department has Indiana's Fernando Mendoza ranked as the only definite first-round quarterback talent. Oregon's Dante Moore and Alabama's Ty Simpson have fringe first-round grades, but indications right now are that Moore will return to school next year.

Even a potentially weak quarterback class has rarely stopped teams from reaching to address the position, but Murray has a track record of success at the NFL level that indicates he can still be a valuable player.

Last season, for instance, Murray was a top-10 quarterback by QBR. His 63.4 mark was sandwiched between Patrick Mahomes (64.6) and Jalen Hurts (62.5). It ranked ahead of Justin Herbert (61.7) and Matthew Stafford (61.5).

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Nov. 8 that Murray and Cardinals officials are "expected to have extensive discussions" in the coming weeks that will determine his future.

One person told Schefter a "separation is imminent" between the two sides.

Per Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, the key date to watch is five days after the 2026 league year starts on March 11 because Murray will be paid $3.04 million of his non-guaranteed salary for next season and his $19.5 million guarantee for 2027 kicks in.

Fitzgerald noted the Cardinals would absorb a $54.718 million dead cap charge for 2026 if they release Murray. They could defer $7.2 million of that to 2027 if they use the post-June 1 designation.

It would seem difficult for some teams to sell their fan base on a potential retread quarterback just given how things are going for them this season. The Jets, for instance, just tried it with Justin Fields and it has bombed.

Dolphins fans might end up posting the Spider-Man pointing meme thinking about going from Tua Tagovailoa to Murray, though if Mike McDaniel stays on as head coach, his ability to devise a running game with a scrambling quarterback might unlock some elements of Murray's game.

The Browns are in a tough spot trying to add a relatively expensive veteran because Deshaun Watson is still under contract next season with a $46 million base salary and $80.7 million cap hit.

Carolina makes a lot of sense both because it's becoming more apparent that Bryce Young isn't going to be the long-term answer, but the team has won too many games already this season (5-5) that it is unlikely to be in the mix for a top pick to add one of the top quarterbacks in the draft even if it wanted to.

A big-body wide receiver like Tetairoa McMillan could help bring out the best in Murray, who was one of the best deep-ball throwers in the NFL when he had DeAndre Hopkins to target.

Murray's status for the rest of this season is up in the air after he landed on injured reserve last week due to a foot injury. He threw for 962 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions in five starts prior to the injury.